MR. A. P. O’CALLAGHAN AT PREBBLETON.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2381, 19 November 1881, Page 4

MR. A. P. O’CALLAGHAN AT PREBBLETON.

Mr A. P. o’Calla.glmn, one of tho candidates for the representation of tho Lincoln electoral district ic the General Assembly, addressed a meeting of the electors of that district in the schoolroona, Probbloton, last evening. There was a good attendance, Air James A. Gummack was voted to tho chair and bricily introduced the candidate, bespeaking for him a patient hearing. Mr O’Callaghan, who on coming forward was well .received, s.ii’d he was glad to sec the large attendance, which ho took as a proof that the Lincoln doctors did not desire a walk over, and that political life existed in their midst. Ho was well known to the electors, and on that kn< wledgo he relied as to their opinion of bis fitness to bo their representative. Two reasons had boon mentioned why ho should not be returned. The first was that be lived outside tho district. Ho had lived twelve years in thoir midst, and even now ic was only a tend of tho Elver rials well that put him into the Akaroa district. The second reason was that he had hesitated too long Jboforo coming forward. That he took to he an advantage rather than otherwise. He came before them unpledged to any party, nor had he taken any hint as to the parly ho should support, as his solo desire was to forward the interests of the electors of the district in the House. Ee would now touch on tho most important questions of the day, and first ns to tho Governor, if he should be elected or nominated. He favored the latter, as he should bo clear of all party influence in the exercise of his functions. Next came the Legislative Couucil, and in tho next Parliament their status would have to bo considered. His objections were (Ist) that it was a nominated Chamber; (t*nd) that it was for life; (3rd) on account of the property qualification, and lastly that they were an unapproachable body and too conservative for the present state of politics in New {Zealand. As at x>resont constituted those gentlemen wore a standing check on tho progress of Now Zealand, and in that Chamber the wisdom and intellect, and not the property of New Zealand, should be represented. Now they wore only responsible for the dignity of tho House in which they sat, although perhaps some of them had a dread of the Lower House. He once heard a legislative Councillor say at an after dinner speech that ho was responsible only to tho Queen, and not to any elector in New Zealand. Tho Premier had said recently that tho Upper House should be elected, and last year ho had said it should be elected by tho House of Roprcseutat.vos. He thought one-third of the Upper House should retire. In twelve months time an election of persons eligible for seats in that House should be taken, and the present members of that House should bo eligible if the people thought fit. Ho would place it in tho power of the Lower House to ballot a certain number of that body for the Upper House, aud he believed that out "of that body the best of the pride aud intellect of New Zealand would he eligible. At present only some twenty-five or thirty members —honor to thorn for it—attended regularly to their duties. As regarded the franchise, he counted himself one of the number who professed liberal views, and recently vast gains had been mode, viz., single electorates, all elections on one day, and increased representation. He thought for the present it was well to stay here. The Representation Bill had been carried, but he did not wholly agree with manhood suffrage. He objected to the property vote as it now existed. At present a man holding many votes could vote for different candidates, and that, p-3 against tho one resident voter, was unfair. On the other hand, to refuse votes to property would be unjust, and also in Jthe elimination of tho leasehold vote much injustice had been done —in Christchurch for example, and elsewhere. If a man was allowed not more than three votes (say residential), and two for freehold, or one freehold and one leasehold should be the utmost. Whilst on the question of representation, he might add that he agreed with the remarks made by some of the best men in tho Assembly, that two-thirds c£ tho people of this colony were not represented. Sir George Grey never said a truer word than when ’he said that, despite his election for the Thames, those who voted for him in Christchurch were disfranchised. The Hare system, to his way of thinking, was as nearly perfect as possible, and it would be a grand thing if this, tho .youngest country in the world, adopted that system. As for taxation, he thought the property tax the fairest system that could be adopted here, although he regretted that some property holders escaped. To reach the professional men and clerks with big salaries he thought a special income tax should bo imposed. He also thought that tho large accumulated properties did not pay in proportion to their obligations to the State, notably the large companies in the south of this island, which lived like parasites. Besides, it was manifestly unfair that an income of £IOO,OOO a-year should pp.y at the same rate as those of £louo or £2OOO. In the one case the tax meant only giving up luxuries, whilst in the other it meant necessities. Therefore, some means (should bo devised by which the holders of accumulated wealth should be taxed proportionately higher than men of comparatively small incomes. In saying this he had no Communistic idea. Wealth should be respected, and preserved by the State. But it should he taxed for that respect and preservation. This was no new theory. Taxes on increased wealth were levied in England, on horses, armorial bearings, and tho kind of houses occupied, and in other ways, and why not here. It hod been said that this tax would drive capital away from these shores; hat it had not, nor would it do so, for where safe and good investments were to be found there would capital fall. Last year the property tax amounted to £210.000, and the Customs duties to ono and a half millions. Much though he objected to these duties and would like to see them abolished, the exigencies of the country demanded their retentions. They had all of them doubtless heard of the pamphlet “Land Ho!” and although it was true that tho land belonged to tho people, the creation of freeholds had conferred benefits on mankind. It prevented nomads, and all liked a freehold; therefore, no such scheme as that proposed would over be adopted. Yet he regretted that land was held in such large blocks to the detriment of the colony, as was the case near Waimato, at the hack of Oamaru, the Levels, and other sx>ots. Although he could not blame the holders for taking advantage of the land laws, it was to tho detrimeut of tho colony, and made his blood boil. As to education, he was not as ono of tho papers called it, “A weak tnee’d” candidate. He was in favor of free, secular, aud compulsory education. Tho State could adopt nothing else but such a system, not allowing the religious views of the children to be tampered with. [Cheers. 1 To prevent the rising generation becoming infidels, as in France in tho last century, he would like to see all sects form a compact body, joining together to provide religious instruction for the rising generation. [Cheers.] Mach valuable time was lost in opposing the present system, but as the cost of each child educated was three times greater than at home, and 1G per cent, of the revenue of the State was thus absorbed, it would be well if the Government received help in relieving tho country of this burden, he thought, could bo done by giving a capitation grant to any child, wherever taught, who satisfied tho school inspectors. Ho would like to defer any lengthened remarks on local self-govern-ment till after the Premier had spoken at Leeston on the Government scheme for the coming session. He thought it to be regretted that tho Counties Suspension Bill had not become law last session, and although ho held that it was possible that both County Councils and Road Boards were wanted in some parts of New Zealand, only one body should be allowed to levy rates. Protection of local industries should bo only granted for a year or two, to see if the industry could compote with Home should bo at once suspended, and ho decidedly objected to bonuses. As to the direct steam service, tho colony coaid not afford it at present, and if it would pay, private comi)anies would take it up, although one great drawback was the excessive harbor dues, especially in Lyttelton, which should he reduced. The pilotage charges alone on the s.s. Norfolk were £67, and tho captain told him it was tho most expensive port in the colonies. Tho railway tariff on grain, &c., was too high. He could not see why a train of seventy tracks, drawn hy ono engine on tho level plains, should pay the same rates as on curves aud gradients, where only ten trucks wero attached. Tho single fares every day for traffic would bo conducive to filling the trains as on Saturdays. Tho Licensing Bill should have a fair trial, and if found effective not altered. Ho would compensate any person who conducted his house properly and was deprived of it hy local The honorarium should be continued, as its dicontinuanco would inflict a blow on liberalism, and curtail the choice of candidates. A great deal of cheap x>bpularity had been sought by those who could do without it, but he never heard of its being handed back for the good of the country. Tho body of the Agricultural College at Lincoln should bo elected by the farmers, as although the present men ■were good, election was better than nomination. Besides, the college was supported by an endowment of 100,000 acres of land in South Canterbury for agricultural x> nr posos, and he felt sure tho agriculturist had not benefited by it. Tho rejection of tho Protection of Crops Bill by the Upper Houso was duo to tho action of tho Hons. J, T. Peacock and W. Robinson, who were ignorant of what they were both speaking aud voting about, aud thus did barm to farmers. If they returned him to tho General Assembly he would guard the farmers’ interests with all tho iiowers he possessed. Mr O'Callaghan renewed his seat amidst x )r olonged applause. In answer to questions, he said that ho was not in favor of every child’s parents having to pay for high class education, as clever sous of x»oor x>aronts were entitled to it by virtue of certain reserves specially made for that purpose. No more money should be borrowed than was sufficient to complete necessary public works. He could not promise to undertake law reform, but would support any steps in that direction.

la answer to Mr O’Callaghan, the other candidate (Mr Poryman) said ho was in favor of any elector •who had signed his requisition voting-as hoxdeased, as the ballot was the working man’s charter, i Mr T. G. Rule proposed, and Mr J. Smith seconded,a vote of thanks to Mr O’Callaghau, which was carried unanimously. A like vote to the chairman terminated the mooting.